Foveated rendering

ABSTRACT

According to the invention, a method for changing a display based on a gaze point of a user on the display is disclosed. The method may include determining a gaze point of a user on a display. The method may also include causing a first area of the display to be displayed in a first manner, the first area including the gaze point and a surrounding area. The method may further include causing a second area of the display to be displayed in a second manner, the second area being different than the first area, and the second manner being different than the first manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Graphical items may be used on a display to show data and information toa viewer. These graphical items may include text, images, and video.Graphical items in the area of computing are well known and have been inuse for many years. Recently, showing three dimensional (3D) graphicalitems on a display has increased in importance in areas such as gaming,modeling and movies.

When displaying graphical items, a system such as a computer uses aprocessor in combination with memory to display the items on a screen orother display device. Methods for displaying graphical items vary, buttypically they rely on a computer interpreting commands to control agraphics processing device that provides graphical items for display.The graphics processing device typically contains custom hardware forthis purpose including a processor and memory. In some computer systemsthe graphics processing device is fully integrated, and in others it isprovided as a separate component known as a graphics card.

Graphics processing devices have limits on their processing power,usually quantified in terms of the amount of graphical items that can bedisplayed on a screen at any given time. This is typically limited bythe capabilities of the hardware embodying the graphics processingdevice, including processors, memory, and communication channels.Additionally, the amount of graphical items able to be displayed on ascreen at a given point can be limited by communication limits betweenthe graphics processing device and computer.

In many scenarios that require graphical items be displayed on a screen,a user only focuses on a portion of the screen, and therefore only aportion of the graphical items, an any given time. Meanwhile, othergraphical items continue to be displayed on the remaining portions ofthe screen, which the user is not focused on. This wastes valuablegraphics processing device resources to produce graphical items thatcannot be fully appreciated by the user because the visual acuity of ahuman drops dramatically outside those images immediately focused on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a method for changing a display based on a gaze pointof a user on the display is provided. The method may include determininga gaze point of a user on a display. The method may also include causinga first area of the display to be displayed in a first manner, the firstarea including the gaze point and a surrounding area. The method mayfurther include causing a second area of the display to be displayed ina second manner, the second area being different than the first area,and the second manner being different than the first manner.

In another embodiment, a system for changing content on a display basedon a gaze point of a user on the display is provided. The system mayinclude an eye tracking device for determining a gaze point of a user ona display and a processor. The processor may be for at least causing afirst area of the display to be displayed in a first manner, the firstarea including the gaze point and a surrounding area. The processor mayalso be for at least causing a second area of the display to bedisplayed in a second manner, the second area being different than thefirst area, and the second manner being different than the first manner.

In another embodiment, a non-transitory machine readable medium havinginstructions stored thereon for changing content on a display based on agaze point of a user on the display is provided. The instructions may beexecutable by one or more processors to at least determine a gaze pointof a user on a display and cause a first area of the display to bedisplayed in a first manner, the first area including the gaze point anda surrounding area. The instructions may also be executable to at leastcause a second area of the display to be displayed in a second manner,the second area being different than the first area, and the secondmanner being different than the first manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in conjunction with the appendedfigures:

FIG. 1 is an schematic view of one embodiment of the invention foradjusting a display device based on eye tracking;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a display device demonstrating variousaspects of some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 is another schematic view of a display device demonstratingvarious aspects of some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 is another schematic view of a display device demonstratingvarious aspects of some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of virtual versus real pixels which ispertinent to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of one method of the invention for modifying adisplay device based on eye tracking;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of another method of the invention formodifying a display device based on eye tracking;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of another method of the invention formodifying a display device based on eye tracking;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of another method of the invention formodifying a display device based on eye tracking;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system capable ofbeing used in at least some portion of the apparatuses or systems of thepresent invention, or implementing at least some portion of the methodsof the present invention.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have thesame numerical reference label. Further, various components of the sametype may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letterthat distinguishes among the similar components and/or features. If onlythe first numerical reference label is used in the specification, thedescription is applicable to any one of the similar components and/orfeatures having the same first numerical reference label irrespective ofthe letter suffix.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is notintended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of thedisclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodimentswill provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description forimplementing one or more exemplary embodiments. It being understood thatvarious changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elementswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

For example, any detail discussed with regard to one embodiment may ormay not be present in all contemplated versions of that embodiment.Likewise, any detail discussed with regard to one embodiment may or maynot be present in all contemplated versions of other embodimentsdiscussed herein. Finally, the absence of discussion of any detail withregard to embodiment herein shall be an implicit recognition that suchdetail may or may not be present in any version of any embodimentdiscussed herein.

Specific details are given in the following description to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits,systems, networks, processes, and other elements in the invention may beshown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure theembodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-knowncircuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shownwithout unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as aprocess which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flowdiagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchartmay describe the operations as a sequential process, many of theoperations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition,the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process may beterminated when its operations are completed, but could have additionalsteps not discussed or included in a figure. Furthermore, not alloperations in any particularly described process may occur in allembodiments. A process may correspond to a method, a function, aprocedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process correspondsto a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the functionto the calling function or the main function.

The term “machine-readable medium” includes, but is not limited totransitory and non-transitory, portable or fixed storage devices,optical storage devices, wireless channels and various other mediumscapable of storing, containing or carrying instruction(s) and/or data. Acode segment or machine-executable instructions may represent aprocedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine,a module, a software package, a class, or any combination ofinstructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment maybe coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passingand/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memorycontents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed,forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memorysharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be implemented, at leastin part, either manually or automatically. Manual or automaticimplementations may be executed, or at least assisted, through the useof machines, hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. Whenimplemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the programcode or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in amachine readable medium. A processor(s) may perform the necessary tasks.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a system 100 is shown having a display 110 and aneye tracking device 120. A computer 130 is in communication with display110, and includes a central processing unit (CPU) 140, and graphicsprocessing unit (GPU) 150. Motherboard 160 allows for communicationbetween CPU 140, GPU 150, and eye tracking device 120. Display 110, eyetracking device 120, and computer 130 are merely exemplary in nature forpurposes of this disclosure, as other computing devices, displays, andeye tracking devices including various desktop computers, laptopcomputers, notebook computers, tablets, mobile and cellular devices,wearable devices such a virtual reality headsets andwristwatches/computers, etc. could also embody some or all of thecomponents in FIG. 1. Furthermore, FIG. 5, discussed below, illustratesother possible components present in various embodiments of computer130.

It has been determined that when a human user is focusing on display 110at gaze point 160, the user is only able to focus at a high resolutionof detail on a first area 163 surrounding gaze point 160. In thesurrounding area 166, the resolution at which details can be ascertainedby human eyes drops off. Consequently, a lesser amount of computingresources, such as processing power of CPU 140 and GPU 150, can bedevoted to rendering that portion of the display. Thus, by employing eyetracking device 120, the position of a user's gaze on display 110 can bedetermined and used to inform CPU 140 and GPU 150 how to mostefficiently render different areas of display 110 to a level of detailwhich does not exceed what an average user can effectively ascertain,thereby conserving computing resources. First area 163 surrounding gazepoint 160 can be dynamic, moving as the gaze point moves, meaning thatdifferent portions of display 110

Turning to FIG. 2, it has also been determined that resolutionperception is greater in the horizontal axis 210 of a gaze point 160than in the vertical axis 220. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, resolutionperception is greatest within first area 163, immediately surroundinggaze point 160, and less at second area 170, and even less at third area173.

Finally, it has also been determined that resolution perception is notconsistent direction-wise in the periphery from the gaze point. Turningnow to FIG. 3, it will be shown how humans have greater verticalresolution than horizontal resolution along the horizontal axis 210 oftheir periphery, and greater horizontal resolution than verticalresolution along the vertical axis 220 of their periphery. Humans arebetter able to see parallel gratings 310 than perpendicular gratings 320on both the horizontal axis 210 and vertical axis 220. This means thatvertical resolution perception is greater along the horizontal axis 210,and horizontal resolution perception is greater along the vertical axis,when at a certain angular distance from gaze point 163. The same effectoccurs at other non-cardinal/intermediate axes 230 between thehorizontal axis 210 and vertical axis 220.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the most computing resource effective mannerin which to render display 110 would be to (1) render first area 163 ata high resolution 410; (2) render remaining area 166 in an increasinglylower resolution away from first area 163; (3) render areas abouthorizontal axis 210 in a lower and horizontally orientated rectangularresolution 420; (4) render areas about intermediate axes 230 in a yetlower and a substantially parallel rectangular resolution 430; and (5)render areas about vertical axis 220 in an even yet lower and verticallyorientated rectangular resolution 440. Note that with regard to theintermediate axes, the term “substantially parallel” means that for agiven axis, the surrounding resolution will be parallel to resolutionswhich may be close to or exactly parallel to a resolutions lying closeto or exactly on the axis.

To render pixels of different sizes, a virtual pixilation scheme may beemployed at each location where different size and/or shaped pixels arerequired. FIG. 5 shows how a virtual pixel could be made up from anumber of smaller real pixels. Thus, in a high resolution area, realpixels may be employed, with each real pixel rendered on a potentiallyindependent level to obtain the highest possible image quality.Meanwhile, in a low resolution area, virtual pixels may be employed,with each virtual pixel rendered on a potentially independent level toobtain the minimum image quality necessary for that area (i.e., wherehigher image quality could not be perceived at the periphery of a user'svision). While each virtual pixel may be comprised on multiple realpixels, all real pixels within a given virtual pixel would be renderedin the same manner to cause the entire given virtual pixel to berendered as if it was a single pixel.

While the above discussion has focused on modifying the resolution ofdifferent areas of the display (i.e., a first area which includes thegaze point, a remainder of the display beyond the first area, a secondarea which includes a portion of a horizontal axis of the gaze point, athird area which includes a portion of a vertical axis of the gazepoint, and a fourth area which includes a portion of an intermediateaxis of the gaze point), other visual qualities may also be rendered atlower quality levels in order to accomplish the intention of savingcomputing resources. Merely by way of example, a reduced quality area ofthe display could be displayed in (when compared to the quality of afirst manner of display in a higher quality area): a decreasedresolution from the first manner, a decreased shading quality from thefirst manner, a decreased shadow quality from the first manner, adecreased reflection rendering quality from the first manner, adecreased texture mapping quality from the first manner, a decreasedframe rate from the first manner, a decreased fogging/particulationquality from the first manner, a decreased translucence renderingquality from the first manner, a decreased anti-aliasing quality fromthe first manner, a decreased frame rate from the first manner, and adecreased three dimensional rendering quality from the first manner.Other manners of decreasing quality of rendering, as known in the art,are also possible.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one method 600 of the invention forchanging content on a display based on a gaze point of a user. At block610, the gaze point of the user on the display is determined. At block620, a first area of the display is displayed in a first manner. Thefirst area of the display includes the gaze point an a surrounding area.The size of the surrounding area may be adjusted based on a distancefrom the display to the user's eyes, as determined by the eye trackingdevice and/or processor.

At block 630, a second area of the display (which is different than thefirst area of the display) is displayed in a second manner, differentthan the first manner. The second manner is a manner in which thequality of rendering is lessened from the first manner. As discussedabove, this could be a lower resolution and/or other quality. In someembodiments the second area could be a remainder of the display besidesthe first area, while in other embodiments the second area could includea portion of a horizontal axis extending to a left or a right of thegaze point, or a portion of a vertical axis extending above or below thegaze point. The second area could also or alternatively include aportion of an intermediate axis located angularly between the horizontalaxis and the vertical axis.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another method 700 of the invention forchanging content on a display based on a gaze point of a user. At block710, the gaze point of the user on the display is determined. At block720, a first area of the display is displayed in a first manner. Thefirst area of the display includes the gaze point an a surrounding area.The size of the surrounding area may be adjusted based on a distancefrom the display to the user's eyes, as determined by the eye trackingdevice and/or processor.

At block 730, a second area of the display (which is different than thefirst area of the display) is displayed in a second manner, differentthan the first manner. The second manner is a manner in which thequality of rendering is lessened from the first manner. As discussedabove, this could be a lower resolution and/or other quality. In someembodiments the second area could be a remainder of the display besidesthe first area, while in other embodiments the second area could includea portion of a horizontal axis extending to a left or a right of thegaze point, or a portion of a vertical axis extending above or below thegaze point. The second area could also or alternatively include aportion of an intermediate axis located angularly between the horizontalaxis and the vertical axis.

At block 740, a third area of the display (which is different than thefirst area or the second area of the display) is displayed in a thirdmanner, different than the first and second manners. The third manner isa manner in which the quality of rendering is lessened from the firstmanner and the second manner. As discussed above, this could be a lowerresolution and/or other quality. In some embodiments the third areacould be a remainder of the display besides the first area and thesecond area, while in other embodiments the third area could include aportion of a horizontal axis extending to a left or a right of the gazepoint, or a portion of a vertical axis extending above or below the gazepoint. For example, if the second area included a portion of thehorizontal axis, the third area may include a portion of the verticalaxis (and vice versa). The third area could also or alternativelyinclude a portion of an intermediate axis located angularly between thehorizontal axis and the vertical axis.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another method 800 of the invention forchanging content on a display based on a gaze point of a user. At block810, the gaze point of the user on the display is determined. At block820, a first area of the display is displayed in a first manner. Thefirst area of the display includes the gaze point an a surrounding area.The size of the surrounding area may be adjusted based on a distancefrom the display to the user's eyes, as determined by the eye trackingdevice and/or processor.

At block 830, and angular distance from the gaze point is determined toother potential second areas of the display. If the angular distance issufficiently large, then reduced quality rendering may be allowablewithout a reduction in perceived quality by the user. Thereafter, atblock 840, such second area is displayed in a second manner which isbased on the angular distance, and different than the first manner. Thesecond manner is a manner in which the quality of rendering is lessenedfrom the first manner. As discussed above, this could be a lowerresolution and/or other quality. In this manner, depending on theembodiment, the angular distance from the user's eye(s) to variousportions of the screen outside the first area (potentially all of theremaining area) could be analyzed to determine one or more areas whichare candidates for reduced quality rendering. Minimum angular distanceswhich may be candidates for reduced quality rendering include thoseareas of the display which are 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 degrees andgreater from the gaze point.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another method 900 of the invention forchanging content on a display based on a gaze point of a user. At block910, the gaze point of the user on the display is determined. At block920, a first area of the display is displayed in a first manner. Thefirst area of the display includes the gaze point an a surrounding area.The size of the surrounding area may be adjusted based on a distancefrom the display to the user's eyes, as determined by the eye trackingdevice and/or processor.

At block 930, a second area of the display (which is different than thefirst area of the display) is displayed in a second manner, differentthan the first manner. The second manner is a manner in which thequality of rendering is lessened from the first manner. As discussedabove, this could be a lower resolution and/or other quality. In someembodiments the second area could be a remainder of the display besidesthe first area, while in other embodiments the second area could includea portion of a horizontal axis extending to a left or a right of thegaze point, or a portion of a vertical axis extending above or below thegaze point. The second area could also or alternatively include aportion of an intermediate axis located angularly between the horizontalaxis and the vertical axis.

At block 940, a third area of the display (which is different than thefirst area or the second area of the display) is displayed in a thirdmanner, different than the first and second manners. The third manner isa manner in which the quality of rendering is lessened from the firstmanner and the second manner. As discussed above, this could be a lowerresolution and/or other quality. In some embodiments the third areacould be a remainder of the display besides the first area and thesecond area, while in other embodiments the third area could include aportion of a horizontal axis extending to a left or a right of the gazepoint, or a portion of a vertical axis extending above or below the gazepoint. For example, if the second area included a portion of thehorizontal axis, the third area may include a portion of the verticalaxis (and vice versa). The third area could also or alternativelyinclude a portion of an intermediate axis located angularly between thehorizontal axis and the vertical axis.

At block 950, a fourth area of the display (which is different than thefirst area, the second area, or the third area of the display) isdisplayed in a fourth manner, different than the first, second, andthird manners. The fourth manner is a manner in which the quality ofrendering is lessened from the first manner, the second manner, and thethird manner. As discussed above, this could be a lower resolutionand/or other quality. In some embodiments the fourth area could be aremainder of the display besides the first, second, and third areas,while in other embodiments the fourth area could include a portion of ahorizontal axis extending to a left or a right of the gaze point, or aportion of a vertical axis extending above or below the gaze point. Forexample, if the second area included a portion of the horizontal axis,the third area may include a portion of the vertical axis (and viceversa). The fourth area could also or alternatively include a portion ofan intermediate axis located angularly between the horizontal axis andthe vertical axis (especially in those embodiments where the second andthird areas already include such areas).

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer system1000 in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.This example illustrates a computer system 1000 such as may be used, inwhole, in part, or with various modifications, to provide the functionsof the display, the computing device, the central processing unit, thegraphics processing unit, the eye tracking device, and/or othercomponents of the invention such as those discussed above. For example,various functions of the various components of the invention may becontrolled by the computer system 1000, including, merely by way ofexample, rendering different portions of the display, determining a gazepoint, etc.

The computer system 1000 is shown comprising hardware elements that maybe electrically coupled via a bus 1090. The hardware elements mayinclude one or more central processing units 1010, one or more inputdevices 1020 (e.g., a mouse, a keyboard, eye tracking device, etc.), andone or more output devices 1030 (e.g., a display device, a printer,etc.). The computer system 1000 may also include one or more storagedevice 1040. By way of example, storage device(s) 1040 may be diskdrives, optical storage devices, solid-state storage device such as arandom access memory (“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), whichcan be programmable, flash-updateable and/or the like.

The computer system 1000 may additionally include a computer-readablestorage media reader 1050, a communications system 1060 (e.g., a modem,a network card (wireless or wired), an infra-red communication device,Bluetooth™ device, cellular communication device, etc.), and workingmemory 1080, which may include RAM and ROM devices as described above.In some embodiments, the computer system 1000 may also include aprocessing acceleration unit 1070, which can include a digital signalprocessor, a special-purpose processor and/or the like.

The computer-readable storage media reader 1050 can further be connectedto a computer-readable storage medium, together (and, optionally, incombination with storage device(s) 1040) comprehensively representingremote, local, fixed, and/or removable storage devices plus storagemedia for temporarily and/or more permanently containingcomputer-readable information. The communications system 1060 may permitdata to be exchanged with a network, system, computer and/or othercomponent described above.

The computer system 1000 may also comprise software elements, shown asbeing currently located within a working memory 1080, including anoperating system 1084 and/or other code 1088. It should be appreciatedthat alternate embodiments of a computer system 1000 may have numerousvariations from that described above. For example, customized hardwaremight also be used and/or particular elements might be implemented inhardware, software (including portable software, such as applets), orboth. Furthermore, connection to other computing devices such as networkinput/output and data acquisition devices may also occur.

Software of computer system 1000 may include code 1088 for implementingany or all of the function of the various elements of the architectureas described herein. For example, software, stored on and/or executed bya computer system such as system 1000, can provide the functions of thedisplay, the computing device, the central processing unit, the graphicsprocessing unit, the eye tracking device, and/or other components of theinvention such as those discussed above. Methods implementable bysoftware on some of these components have been discussed above in moredetail.

The invention has now been described in detail for the purposes ofclarity and understanding. However, it will be appreciated that certainchanges and modifications may be practiced within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for changing content on a display basedon a gaze point of a user on the display, wherein the method comprises:determining a gaze point of a user on a display; causing a first area ofthe display to be displayed in a first manner, the first area includingthe gaze point and a surrounding area; and causing a second area of thedisplay to be displayed in a second manner, the second area beingdifferent than the first area, and the second manner being differentthan the first manner.
 2. The method for changing content on a displaybased on a gaze point of a user on the display of claim 1, wherein thesecond area comprises: a portion of a horizontal axis extending to aleft or a right of the gaze point.
 3. The method for changing content ona display based on a gaze point of a user on the display of claim 1,wherein the second area comprises: a portion of a vertical axisextending above or below the gaze point.
 4. The method for changingcontent on a display based on a gaze point of a user on the display ofclaim 2, wherein the method further comprises: causing a third area ofthe display to be displayed in a third manner, wherein: the third areacomprises a portion of a vertical axis extending above or below the gazepoint; the third area is different than the first area and the secondarea; and the third manner is different than the first manner and thesecond manner.
 5. The method for changing content on a display based ona gaze point of a user on the display of claim 3, wherein the methodfurther comprises: causing a third area of the display to be displayedin a third manner, wherein: the third area comprises a portion of ahorizontal axis extending to a left or a right of the gaze point; thethird area is different than the first area and the second area; and thethird manner is different than the first manner and the second manner.6. The method for changing content on a display based on a gaze point ofa user on the display of claim 2, wherein: the first manner comprises afirst resolution; the second manner comprises a second resolution; andthe second resolution is lower than the first resolution.
 7. The methodfor changing content on a display based on a gaze point of a user on thedisplay of claim 3, wherein: the first manner comprises a firstresolution; the second manner comprises a second resolution; and thesecond resolution is lower than the first resolution.
 8. The method forchanging content on a display based on a gaze point of a user on thedisplay of claim 4, wherein: the first manner comprises a firstresolution; the second manner comprises a second resolution; the thirdmanner comprises a third resolution; the third resolution is lower thanthe second resolution; and the second resolution is lower than the firstresolution.
 9. The method for changing content on a display based on agaze point of a user on the display of claim 5, wherein: the firstmanner comprises a first resolution; the second manner comprises asecond resolution; the third manner comprises a third resolution; thesecond resolution is lower than the third resolution; and the thirdresolution is lower than the first resolution.
 10. The method forchanging content on a display based on a gaze point of a user on thedisplay of claim 6, wherein the second resolution comprises: a pluralityof virtual pixels, each virtual pixel having a greater width thanheight.
 11. The method for changing content on a display based on a gazepoint of a user on the display of claim 10, wherein each virtual pixelcomprises: a plurality of actual pixels.
 12. The method for changingcontent on a display based on a gaze point of a user on the display ofclaim 7, wherein the second resolution comprises: a plurality of virtualpixels, each virtual pixel having a greater height than width.
 13. Themethod for changing content on a display based on a gaze point of a useron the display of claim 12, wherein each virtual pixel comprises: aplurality of actual pixels.
 14. The method for changing content on adisplay based on a gaze point of a user on the display of claim 1,wherein: the method further comprises determining an angular distance,based on a viewpoint of the user, from the gaze point to the secondarea; and the second manner is based at least in part on the angulardistance.
 15. The method for changing content on a display based on agaze point of a user on the display of claim 4, wherein the methodfurther comprises: causing a fourth area of the display to be displayedin a fourth manner, wherein: the fourth area comprises a portion of anintermediate axis located angularly between the horizontal axis and thevertical axis; the fourth area is different than the first area, thesecond area, and the third area; and the fourth manner is different thanthe first manner, the second manner, and the third manner.
 16. Themethod for changing content on a display based on a gaze point of a useron the display of claim 15, wherein: the first manner comprises a firstresolution; the second manner comprises a second resolution; the thirdmanner comprises a third resolution; the fourth manner comprises afourth resolution; the second resolution is lower than the firstresolution; the fourth resolution is lower than the second resolution;and the third resolution is lower than the fourth resolution.
 17. Themethod for changing content on a display based on a gaze point of a useron the display of claim 16, wherein the fourth resolution comprises: aplurality of virtual pixels, each virtual pixel having a lengthsubstantially parallel to the intermediate axis, and a widthsubstantially perpendicular to the intermediate axis, wherein eachvirtual pixel has a greater height than width.
 18. The method forchanging content on a display based on a gaze point of a user on thedisplay of claim 1, wherein the second manner is selected from a groupconsisting of: a decreased resolution from the first manner; a decreasedshading quality from the first manner; a decreased shadow quality fromthe first manner; a decreased reflection rendering quality from thefirst manner; a decreased texture mapping quality from the first manner;a decreased frame rate from the first manner; a decreasedfogging/particulation quality from the first manner; a decreasedtranslucence rendering quality from the first manner; a decreasedanti-aliasing quality from the first manner; a decreased frame rate fromthe first manner; and a decreased three dimensional rendering qualityfrom the first manner.
 19. A system for changing content on a displaybased on a gaze point of a user on the display, wherein the systemcomprises: an eye tracking device for determining a gaze point of a useron a display; and a processor for at least: causing a first area of thedisplay to be displayed in a first manner, the first area including thegaze point and a surrounding area; and causing a second area of thedisplay to be displayed in a second manner, the second area beingdifferent than the first area, and the second manner being differentthan the first manner.
 20. A non-transitory machine readable mediumhaving instructions stored thereon for changing content on a displaybased on a gaze point of a user on the display, wherein the instructionsare executable by one or more processors to at least: determine a gazepoint of a user on a display; cause a first area of the display to bedisplayed in a first manner, the first area including the gaze point anda surrounding area; and cause a second area of the display to bedisplayed in a second manner, the second area being different than thefirst area, and the second manner being different than the first manner.